Bean there, done that!
I have written recently about the positive effects that diet can have on different cancers. We know that people with a normal Body Mass Index have a lower risk of cancer. Studies have also shown a clear link with increased fruit and vegetable intake providing a decrease in the risk of some cancers.

Increased BMI Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer
We know that being overweight puts you at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, but a recent study published in the Lancet (2008;371:569-78) makes it clear that overweight and obesity are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancers, as well.

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Sex, Fiber, and Colon Cancer

Research into the effect of fiber on colon
cancer has shown first that more fiber in your diet protects you
from colon cancer, then other studies seem to show that it doesn't. Researchers
in Arizona (Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83:343-349) recently combined and
analyzed the results of two studies to find that the effects of fiber intake
appears to be gender-specific (bet you thought the headline was about something
else!).

All 3,209 subjects who participated in the two trials had previously
had a colorectal adenoma (a benign polyp that can be a precursor to cancer)
removed. Subjects received varying levels of fiber supplementation, either
with or without additional dietary changes, and at the end of the study,
all subjects had another colonoscopy to assess whether a colorectal adenoma
had recurred.

The outcome? Men who had the highest fiber intake had the
lowest rate of recurrence compared to other men, while fiber intake
did not seem to have any significant effect on recurrence in women (although,
interestingly, women who were on Hormone Replacement Therapy seemed
to fare better than women who were not). The researchers wisely note that
colon cancer locations tend to differ between men and women and that
further study should not only look at the effect of fiber on tumor location
but also that colon cancer studies should more generally be differentiated
by sex as well.

What this means for you

Whether or not fiber will protect you
from colon cancer, it’s still part of a heart-healthy diet!